Hoping to win our sixth title: Fields
First Published : 16 Feb 2013, 15:35
Last Modified : 16 Feb 2013, 15:37
Five-time World Cup champions, Australia, will be taking on the West Indies, who will be making their first finals appearance, on February 17. The Jodie Fields-led side lost to the West Indies in the Super Six stage but is hoping to reverse the result in the game tomorrow. They are geared up to deal the final punch and lift the coveted trophy for the sixth time.
Speaking to the media ahead of the title clash, Fields spoke about her team and the opposition.
Excerpts from her pre-match press conference:
On playing at the Brabourne Stadium
We are looking forward to playing at this stadium. We have had some really good matches here; really enjoyed playing here and it’s a World Cup final, so we are just so involved.
On the loss to West Indies in the Super Six stage
We can look back on the match now and know that we don’t perform to our best. I feel that there is still a lot of improvement that we can make. Coming into the World Cup final I suppose we have got these experiences. We have been there before, but we know that we are going to have to play well tomorrow to beat the team tomorrow, and hopefully we can do that.
On the going into the final as favourites
I suppose we are probably going in as favourites, but we have to play well. We have to put good bowling, batting and fielding performances on to beat this side. They played really well the other day and they have got some really dangerous players.
On West Indies team
Credit to them for playing a really good match the other day. Their bowlers did a great job to restrict out batting. But it when comes down to being in a World Cup final, both teams are passionate […]. But I guess the Australians have got a lot of advantage; we have been here before and we have managed to win the World Twenty20 trophy, and hopefully, we can play well again.
On the status of Elyse Perry
Elyse Perry and Sarah Coyte are really travelling well. They are a rehabilitating well and we are having a training session this afternoon. We will see how they pull up this afternoon and after that we will choose the team and then see what happens tomorrow.
On Megan Schutt
Megan Schutt has come in the side she has been a revelation for us and so has the youngster, Holly Ferling. Very proud of how they played throughout the tournament.
On the batting line-up for tomorrow
The team will be decided later today, but I am very confident in the batting line-up […]. I have got the deepest confidence in all the batters that they will bat tomorrow. We are really keen to get out there and show what we are made of.
On West Indies’ Deandra Dottin
Deandra is a very powerful stroke-maker and she has played really well throughout this tournament, but you can’t just worry about one person in the team. The whole West Indies line-up is a very strong line-up; a very competitive team and so is our Australian line-up. So at the end of the day it comes down to having specific plans for different batters. But we need to do what the Australian team does well, and we will come out tomorrow and give you a really good performance.
On India being a happy hunting ground
It is such an exciting opportunity for the team to be here. We have loved playing at the CCI [Cricket Club of India] stadium. It has been a great ground for us. We are also looking forward to playing the final under lights.
On the prospect of winning the World Cup
I feel a sense of history there. It is a great thing the Australian team has won the World Cup five times and I was also part of the side in 2009 back in Sydney when we didn’t have such a good tournament. So personally to be involved in a World Cup final, to be here and be part of the World Cup, is an amazing opportunity for me personally and also for the team. We are keen to get out there and have a good shot at the sixth title.
